Assigning selection to a string variable

[jrfoster]

I am trying to parse text within a textmaker document.
The following code appears to be valid:
tm.ActiveDocument.Selection.SetRange ParagraphStart, ParagraphStart + 11

But the following does not work (generates a syntax error):
A$ = tm.ActiveDocument.Selection.SetRange ParagraphStart, ParagraphStart + 11

Can I assign paragraph text to a string so that I can search within that string (using InStr(), for example)?